NEU Strike Action

4th March 2025

Dear Families,

I am writing to advise you that The National Education Union (NEU) has called for six discontinuous days of strike action at Western Road School, in relation to the following reason which has been sourced directly from the NEU ballot paper:

  •  Proposed reduction of teachers and teaching assistant positions in the school.
  •  And/or proposed redundancies and reduction in teaching and teaching assistant hours.
  •  Workload concerns resulting from the above reductions.

 

The strike action dates we have been notified of are as follows:

  • Wednesday, 12th March 2025
  • Tuesday, 18th March 2025
  • Thursday, 20th March 2025
  • Tuesday, 25th March 2025
  • Wednesday, 26th March 2025
  • Thursday, 27th March 2025

The current proposal is that there will be no redundancies to teaching staff following a resignation and that there will be 6 Teaching Assistants and HLTA posts rather than 7, so a reduction of 1 and we will look at ways to make adjustments through reduction in hours to avoid the need for redundancy. We have been in regular discussions with the union over the staffing restructure proposals, which are necessary for the school to set a balanced budget.

 

The finalising of the budget, consultation and discussions are ongoing and it is very much hoped that a resolution can be found to avoid industrial action. You have my commitment that myself and the governors are working to do everything we can to avoid industrial action. However, at the time of writing, as a consequence of the notification of strike action, Western Road Community Primary School will be closed on the dates above. I do recognise the impact this has on parents, carers and the pupils however in reaching this decision, the governing board and I have fully considered the Health and Safety of the pupils which is our highest priority.

 

If the position changes and strike action is called off, I will let you know as soon as I have been informed.

With best wishes,

 


Irena WoolerHead Teacher